Date: 29 March 2018 Time: 09:30-12.30 & 14.00 17.00 Location: Red Room, FAO HQ (Building A, 1st Floor) I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) carried out the reform in 2009 so that it can fully play its vital role in the area of food security and nutrition (FSN). The Reform Document (RD) 1 is and will remain the cornerstone of CFS work. This Implementation Report is developed to supplement the RD and adjust to the new global FSN environment (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ICN2 etc.) 2. Regarding the implementation of CFS evaluation, CFS decisions are provided in the Consultation report for the preparation of the response of the CFS with draft decisions 2. 3. Inclusive discussions with all stakeholders have been conducted in forms of open meetings. Written inputs and bilateral meetings ensured voices were heard and well communicated. A Bureau retreat was organized to brainstorm on how to proceed with an effective and efficient implementation process. All information was provided in a timely manner through the CFS Working Space so as to keep the process transparent and synchronized with stakeholders. 4. The Implementation Report provides a synthesis of progress made in implementing the Plan of Action of the (i.e. response to the evaluation recommendations), leading to improving CFS relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. Section II presents the actions that have been taken to address the most important areas that required attention and were identified during the preparation of the Plan of Action. Section III concludes on how the implementation of the Plan of Action will lead to improving CFS and present follow-up actions. II. AREAS OF ATTENTION 5. CFS has achieved fruitful outcomes since its reform. With more and more emerging issues and development complexity in FSN areas, CFS also encountered difficulties and challenges in taking up its role in changing the global architecture. Some voices, that are getting louder, say that CFS should have a strategic direction of development, strengthen linkages to countries and be demand-driven. Others emphasized that among all the issues happening in FSN areas, CFS should make full use of its comparative and unique advantages to prioritize and focus on certain issues. In response to these voices, the independent evaluation was conducted in 2017. To make full use of this evaluation and best address the difficulties and challenges ahead, we are determined to implement actions which will bring a breakthrough of CFS so that it can achieve its vision. 1 CFS:2009/2 Rev.2 2 CFS 2017/44/12/Rev.1. Page 1 of 8
6. The twenty-nine actions endorsed at CFS 44 as part of the response to the evaluation recommendations, or to be presented at CFS 45, have been clustered around the areas of attention to provide the basis of a holistic approach for the implementation process 3. The following paragraphs explain how these actions will contribute to addressing those areas of attention. 1) DIRECTION Providing more strategic direction to guide CFS work 2) DEMAND DRIVEN- Ensuring CFS work is guided by the needs of beneficiaries and linked to realities on the ground 3) PRIORITIZATION - Prioritizing urgent, critical and emerging FSN issues which can directly contribute to making positive change for people on the ground in line with the CFS vision. To this end achieving the strategic objectives of the next four-year MYPoW (SOs) will be an important planning tool.and CFS vision. 4) EVIDENCE/SCIENCE-BASED - Maximizing the value of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) and evidence in supporting CFS work 5) OWNERSHIP - Creating political momentum and commitment to CFS, resulting in involvement of and ownership by high level representatives of Members and Participants 6) UPTAKE - Enhancing awareness of CFS and promoting the dissemination, use and application of CFS products at national, regional and global levels. 7) FUNDING - Ensuring sustainable funding based on solid ownership and added value to cover the core budget for CFS Plenary and workstreams, HLPE and the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) 7. The implementation report acknowledges the pivotal role of the 2009 CFS reform. It seeks to strengthen or revitalize particular elements of the reform to confirm the vital role of CFS as the most important global platform of FSN, along with the changing global environment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 8. Implementing the proposals presented in this report is intended to stimulate the potential of CFS and its policy guidelines and recommendations towards the realization of the CFS vision, serving as the world-leading and foremost inclusive platform dealing with FSN guided by 3 key principles - inclusiveness, strong linkages to the reality on the ground and flexibility in implementation. CFS is an intergovernmental Committee and provides an inclusive global platform for a broad range of committed stakeholders to work together in a coordinated manner and in support of country-led processes for better FSN where countries implement the Voluntary Guidelines for the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security. This implementation report promotes processes and working methods that strive for a more Page 2 of 8
3 An overview of the implementation of the Plan of Action is provided in an information note for Plenary (ref ) Page 3 of 8
demand driven and focused CFS that can better respond to future challenges in a world, where food insecurity and malnutrition are on the rise again. DIRECTION Providing more strategic direction to guide CFS work 9. In order to provide more strategic direction to guide its work, CFS has developed strategic objectives and expected outcomes that will set the focus of CFS activities for the next 4 year MYPoW, clarifying the CFS six roles set out in the Reform Document and how and by whom they should be performed or the next MYPoW, CFS as a Committee should focus its resources on performing Roles 1 and 2 in a more demand-driven way and with greater efficiency and effectiveness as well as the lessons sharing part of Role 5 and Role 6. Roles 3, 4 and the accountability part of Role 5 were mostly beyond the direct control of CFS as a Committee and relied on partnerships with RBAs, other UN bodies and other entities that have an implementation role at national and regional levels. (for a stand alone document difficult to understand what those roles are; perhaps in between brackets one word to pinpoint). 10. Three interlinked strategic objectives are proposed to help channel CFS energy and resources for the next four-year MYPoW to activities that will contribute to achieving the CFS vision and supporting country-led implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely: Serve as the world-leading and foremost inclusive platform to develop global policy messages on FSN (Strategic Objective 1 - PLATFORM) Use directions from the platform to Develop global policy guidance for policy convergence and coherence to address FSN issues (Strategic Objective 2 POLICY) Foster the uptake of CFS work on FSN at all levels (Strategic Objective 3 UPTAKE) 11. The MYPoW strategic objectives are based on the clarification of the six roles defined in the CFS Reform Document, the modalities for their implementation and do not replace the agreed language as approved by CFS in 2009. The MYPoW strategic objectives will promote the recognition of CFS as the leading and most inclusive global platform for FSN and keep FSN high on the global agenda. 12. The MYPoW will include medium-to-long term strategic content, referring to global priorities in the field of FSN, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and informed by an HLPE Critical and Emerging Issues Note and the RBAs strategic objectives. DEMAND-DRIVEN Ensuring CFS work is guided by the needs of beneficiaries and linked to realities on the ground 13. CFS activities will be developed to support country-led implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG2 on ending hunger and SDG17 on revitalizing Page 4 of 8
global partnerships for implementation of the SDGs, and other FSN relevant SDGs. They will contribute to achieving the CFS vision of a world free from hunger where countries implement the Voluntary Page 5 of 8
Guidelines for the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security. 14. The MYPoW preparation process will give particular emphasis to the need of prioritizing activities that address critical and emerging issues in the field of FSN and address the root causes of malnutrition with a focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized. 15. A more prominent role is given to the CFS Plenary in proposing, discussing and giving guidance on issues to be considered in the context of the MYPoW preparation. This is in line with the provision of the CFS Reform Document which states that the Plenary should focus on relevant and specific issues related to FSN in order to provide guidance and actionable recommendations to assist all stakeholders in eradicating hunger. The CFS Plenary should provide a space for genuine multistakeholder dialogue on priority issues in the field of FSN where key representatives from governments, international organizations and agencies, NGOs, CSOs, food producers organizations, private sector organizations, philanthropic foundations, and other relevant stakeholders, can converge to exchange views on these critical issues. 16. The role of the Advisory Group in ensuring CFS work is guided by the needs of beneficiaries [to be further discussed] PRIORITIZATION Prioritizing critical, emerging and urgent FSN issues and how CFS would add value 17. The MYPoW preparation process, which has as starting point discussion in and guidance by Plenary about urgent, critical and emerging issues, is intended to lead to a more effective prioritization of CFS thematic activities, mainly through strengthening ownership and commitment of CFS stakeholders in implementing the results of CFS policy work as well as reinforcing the decision that the inclusion of new activities in MYPoW is subject to resource availability and workload. 18. The various CFS activities aim at producing different types of outputs, namely policy messages from inclusive discussions, global policy guidance, the Global Strategic Framework, and communication and outreach. An appropriate prioritization process is key to select the right number of activities which would allow adequate time for involved stakeholders to deal and coordinate with their constituencies as well as facilitate a greater participation of CFS Members and Participants. CFS will not engage in more than one policy convergence process at a time and delays in the finalization of a negotiation process would automatically postpone the beginning of a new one. 19. As a result of an inclusive process, the CFS Bureau, in consultation with the Advisory Group on the technical details and feasibility of pursuing suggested activities, will finalize the MYPoW that will be presented to the CFS Plenary for consideration and endorsement. Page 6 of 8
20. Fewer and clearer criteria for prioritizing CFS thematic activities will be applied which include their contribution to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition, the focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized, relevance to global priorities in the field of FSN, the added value compared to existing policy work considering the CFS comparative advantages, the consideration of available resources and existing workload as well as the commitment of CFS stakeholders. EVIDENCE/SCIENCE-BASED Maximizing the value of the HLPE and evidence in supporting CFS 21. HLPE activities should be relevant to the work of CFS and their selection should be based on a clear understanding of how they are intended to contribute to the objectives of the Committee and feed into its processes. The decision to request the HLPE to produce a report should be based on a clear understanding of how the report will support the preparation of policy guidance, how the report will feed into the process considering the timescale, and the availability of evidence, research, data and technical studies on the subject under discussion. HLPE will every two year produce a report on critical and emerging issues that will be discussed by Plenary and that will give guidance to the MYPOW process. 22. Better interaction between the HLPE Steering Committee and the Bureau and Advisory Group, in particular on substantive issues, through the provision of advice and focused interventions is important for CFS to maximize the value it receives from the HLPE in supporting CFS policy convergence work. OWNERSHIP Creating political momentum and commitment to CFS, resulting in involvement and ownership of high level representatives 23. The CFS Plenary plays a critical role in creating political momentum and commitment to CFS. This is in line with the centrality, outlined in the Reform Document, of the CFS Plenary for decision-taking, debate, coordination, lesson-learning and convergence by all stakeholders at global level on issues pertaining to FSN and on the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security. 24. Plenary needs to be vibrant and the agenda needs to attract Ministers, who have the ability to bring about changes at national level, and other high-level representatives. Plenary should have an attractive agenda reflecting an interesting MYPoW with high-level, innovative roundtables or forums that include stakeholders from the CSM and Private Sector Mechanism (PSM), think tanks and researchers to encourage more interactive and substantive dialogues on FSN, while ensuring a balance with its decision-making function. This would reinforce the CFS role as a platform and CFS would be seen as a place for generating ideas. Page 7 of 8
25. Suggestions for making plenary vibrant and attractive include a possible joint declaration by Ministers or heads of delegations, high level roundtables and debate sessions to catalyze partnerships, a communication strategy to increase the visibility of CFS, which would include a media plan for plenary and the presentation of important reports and global developments related to FSN. 26. The comprehensive planning phase leading to the prioritization of MYPoW thematic activities is intended to strengthen stakeholders ownership through their direct involvement from the initiation phase and through the definition of post-endorsement roles and responsibilities. This implies that clear indications have already been provided during the preparation of the MYPoW preliminary proposals on commitments as to the implementation of the policy work resulting from the proposed activity. Furthermore, one of the new criteria for prioritization requires the identification of champions to engage in the activity and express commitment to report and monitor the policy work after its endorsement. 27. Ownership of member countries will be strengthened. Bureau members should brief their regional groups on a regular basis and all member countries will keep their respective countries regularly informed of CFS activities and progress and reflect their priorities and concerns in Bureau and Advisory Group meetings. 28. Reiterating the roles of the Bureau and the function of Advisory Group in the RD, the Bureau decides the working mechanism with the Advisory Group including the frequency of meetings and how meetings are to be organized. 29. The Chair has an important political and strategic role to play in Rome, to provide leadership in Plenary and the intersessional period and beyond to promote ownership and commitment. UPTAKE Enhancing awareness of CFS and promoting the dissemination, use and application of CFS products at all levels 30. CFS members have primary responsibility for promoting CFS and the use and application of CFS policy products and recommendations, but support is needed from all stakeholders as part of a collective effort. Partnerships should be implemented in order to promote the interaction between CFS and relevant actors at regional and national levels, strengthen the engagement of regional and national stakeholders in the work of CFS, and support and facilitate collaboration between the Committee and the RBAs. Page 8 of 8
31. Communication is the responsibility of all CFS Members and Participants, including the RBAs and other UN bodies, CGIAR, CSM, PSM and philanthropic and financial institutions. Communication Page 9 of 8
refers to two distinct sets of activities: (i) activities aiming at raising awareness of CFS and its work and (ii) activities towards the use and application of CFS products and recommendations at country level for which Member countries have primary responsibility. HLPE reports, which are used as a basis for the Committee to reach agreement on policy convergence through an inclusive process, should also be disseminated to the relevant ministries at country level, recognizing that they are not CFS- endorsed policy recommendations. 32. The CFS Secretariat will continue to focus on raising awareness of CFS and its work through the CFS website and social media, reporting to global bodies such as UN ECOSOC and sharing information with other UN bodies as appropriate, and supporting, subject to available resources, outreach efforts of the CFS Chair and Vice Chair in consultation with the Bureau. 33. The RBAs have a key role to play in facilitating the use and application of CFS policy guidelines and recommendations at country level. They provide advice and technical support on specific topics, at the request of countries, drawing upon various resources including the work of CFS. Therefore, in response to country requests, the RBAs should continue to leverage interactions with national authorities and stakeholders to actively promote CFS and mainstream its work where relevant. 34. Role of Advisory Group: [elements to be extrapolated from response to Recommendation 4] 35. Given the key political and strategic role in supporting CFS activities, the CFS Chair is expected to promote the role of CFS and its outcomes to increase its impact on the ground and contribution to FSN. The CFS Chair advocates for the use and implementation of CFS policy outcomes by decision and policy-makers and collaborates with all relevant stakeholders to find opportunities to raise awareness of the work carried out by the Committee. The Chair also works to strengthen linkages and create synergies with potential partners at country and regional levels who could contribute to the application of CFS policy guidance on the ground. 36. CFS will also promote accountability and share best practices at all levels, including through the follow-up and review of both global and country/region specific FSN situations; trends, progress and sharing lessons; assessing the effectiveness of CFS and reviewing the use of its policy guidelines and recommendations; and facilitate advice regarding recommended approaches to country/regional monitoring of FSN objectives. CFS will continue to hold Global Thematic Events in Plenary every 2 years [Ref]. All Member states are encouraged to have voluntary inclusive national multistakeholder dialogues and conduct in-depth assessments to monitor progress towards their FSN objectives. Page 10 of
FUNDING Ensuring sustainable funding to cover the core budget for CFS Plenary and workstreams, HLPE and CSM 37. The comprehensive planning phase for prioritizing CFS activities establishes that the decision on which activities to include in the CFS MYPoW will be made taking into account resource availability and workload. Budget estimates and indications on potential resource partners should be included in the preliminary proposals prepared by CFS stakeholders for consideration in the MYPoW discussion. Activities will not start until resources are provided. 38. A robust resource mobilization strategy will help support CFS Plenary and workstreams, the HLPE and the CSM to support CFS priorities as identified in the MYPOW with clear safeguards in line with FAO guidelines to prevent potential conflicts of interest regarding funding. Efforts will be made to diversify the financing base from Members, private foundations and the private sector, and financial institutions. Continued efforts will be made to expand the CFS donor base, including by reaching out to CFS Member States as well as private foundations and the private sector, and financial institutions. 39. CFS will request the RBAs to contribute the full amount of their stated contributions, with guiding principles for monetary and in-kind contributions, and to formalize their contribution for predictability. CFS Members will request the Governing Bodies of the RBAs to adjust their contribution in a sustainable way to cover the core budget for CFS Plenary and Workstreams starting from the 2020-21 biennium. III. BRINGING ALL TOGETHER/BREAKTHROUGH IV. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS / IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Task Proposed deadline 1 2 3 4 Page 11 of